MAA 2020-06: Sri Lanka: Fish: Temporary Measure on Exports

Date of issue: 06 May 2020

Date of effect: Immediate

Reference Number: MAA2020-06

Attention:

• Industries—Industry bodies - Seafood Export Consultative Committee
• Export establishments
• Licensed exporters
• Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment — Central and Regional offices

Purpose

To notify exporters of the change in Sri Lanka’s import regulations affecting the export of fish and fish products.

Summary of key points

• The Ministry of Finance, Economic and Policy Development of Sri Lanka released a gazette notification (no. 2171/5) (https://www.chamber.lk/images/COVID19/pdf/ImportExportControlactamedment.pdf) on 16 April 2020 to notify of the implementation of temporary measures against the import of certain agricultural products including live fish and non-viable fish (fresh, chilled or frozen).
• Under these temporary measures, Sri Lankan Customs and commercial banks are obliged to suspend the facilitation of importation of the commodities listed in Schedule I of the Gazette which includes live fish and non-viable fish (fresh, chilled or frozen) from 16 April 2020 to 15 July 2020.
• Commodities affected in the current advice include the following HS codes:
  • 0301 Live fish
    • 0301.93.00 Carp (Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodonpiceus, Catla catla, Labeo spp., Osteochilus hasselti, Leptobarbushoeveni, Megalobrama spp.)
  • 0304 Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled or frozen
    • 0304.39.00 fresh or chilled fillets of carp, eels, Nile perch and snakeheads.
    • 0304.41.00 Fresh or chilled fillets of other fish: Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon and Danube salmon
    • 0304.49.00 Fresh or chilled fillets of fish other than that in heading 0304.4
    • 0304.51.00 Fresh or chilled tilapias, catfish, carp, catla, Labeo spp. Ost
    • 0304.61.00 Frozen fillets Tilapias
    • 0304.62.00 Frozen fillets catfish
    • 0304.69.00 Frozen fillets carp, eels, Nile perch and snakeheads
    • 0304.74.00 Frozen fillet hake
    • 0304.81.00 Frozen fillet Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon and Danube salmon
    • 0304.87.00 Frozen fillet tunas, skipjack or stripe-bellied bonito
    • 0304.95.00 Frozen fish of families Bregmacerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, Macrouridae, Melanonidae, Merlucciidae, Moridae and Muraenolepididae, other than Alaska Pollack (Theragra chalcogramma)
    • 0304.99.00 Other frozen fish
• The Sri Lankan government will not allow the entry of the above seafood products until 15 July 2020.
• Australian exporters are advised to cease sending products until 15 July 2020. In the meantime, exporters are encouraged to work with their importers to investigate what options may be available to them.

Background

• In response to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, the Sri Lankan government has implemented temporary measures to alleviate the pressure on their exchange rate and the financial markets.
• Under these measures, the Sri Lankan government has directed its Customs and commercial banks to suspend the facilitation of importation of items stipulated in Schedule I of Gazette Notification No. 2171/05.

Further information

Contact Export Standards if you have any queries.

The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.